Human Papillomavirus in Sinonasal Tract Tumors-Another Head and Neck "Hot Spot" for Prognostically Favorable Viral Disease

Surg Pathol Clin. 2024 Dec;17(4):599-614. doi: 10.1016/j.path.2024.07.002. Epub 2024 Sep 10.

Abstract

The sinonasal tract, while an uncommon site of SCC overall, is another "hot spot" for transcriptionally-active high-risk HPV-associated tumors. The accumulating data show that, across the world, the rate of HPV-associated SCC here is approximately 15% and, in the United States, closer to 30%. Patients have lower disease recurrence and better survival than HPV-independent SCC patients. Low-risk HPV also causes a smaller subset of sinonasal SCC, mostly through exophytic and inverted papillomas that transform into SCC. It is not known if these patients have better survival than patients with low-risk HPV-negative SCC. This article reviews the latest data on HPV in sinonasal tumors.

Keywords: Human papillomavirus; Nonkeratinizing; Sinonasal; Squamous cell carcinoma; p16.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / diagnosis
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / virology
  • Human Papillomavirus Viruses
  • Humans
  • Papillomaviridae / genetics
  • Papillomaviridae / isolation & purification
  • Papillomavirus Infections* / complications
  • Papillomavirus Infections* / diagnosis
  • Papillomavirus Infections* / pathology
  • Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms* / diagnosis
  • Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms* / virology
  • Prognosis